Personal Address
According to the progressive group MeidasTouch, Trump will attend the event on September 5 with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Make America Great Again influencer Anthony Raimondi.
Source: The White House/Flickr
He is expected to personally address participants in the insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“Pay Tribute”
The event’s description stated, “We gather to pay tribute not only to these individuals but to all J6 defendants who have shown incredible courage and sacrifice.”
Source: Tyler Merbler/Flickr
A poster for the event hints at a “#1 music chart plaque” for the purported “J6 prison choir’s” song “Justice for All,” which is an interpretation of the national anthem.
Complicating Legal Proceedings
“A chance to win a plaque commemorating the fact that MAGA people bought a bunch of copies of his J6 ‘song’ called ‘Justice for All,’ earning him a fleeting spot on the Billboard music chart,” MeidasTouch said of the giveaway.
Source: Voice of America/Facebook
If Trump goes through with the event, it might jeopardize his legal proceedings.
Breaking New York State Law
Attorney Tristan Snell, who, while working for the New York Attorney General’s office, prosecuted the former president for his fictitious Trump University, claims that, given the anticipated guest list, such an event would be against New York state law.
Source: Gage Skidmore/Flickr
“Someone should alert Trump’s probation officer — because convicted felons are legally prohibited from associating with other felons,” he posted on X.
September Sentencing
While Trump has been convicted by a jury on 34 class E felony counts, he will not be sentenced until September 18.
Source: The White House/Flickr
If the former president is not sentenced to prison at that point (Judge Juan Merchan has the authority to impose sentences of up to 20 years), he will be assigned a probation officer with whom he will be required to regularly communicate.
Technically Legal
This means that the event on September 5 will be technically legal, but it probably won’t help his case when he goes before Merchan less than two weeks after the gala.
Source: Tim Kennedy/Flickr
At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last month, the former president narrowly evaded the ire of prosecutors.
“Fake Electors”
According to former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade, some of the convention attendees were indicted “fake electors.”
Source: BarbMcQuade/X
Trump’s appearance with them may have prompted Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis or Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith to petition the court to incarcerate Trump prior to his trial for consorting with criminal defendants.
1,000s Charged with the Insurrection
The claim that the January 6 participants who ransacked the capitol were innocent and that he would pardon most of them shortly after becoming president if elected to a second term was a common theme in Trump’s campaign speeches.
Source: Tyler Merbler/Flickr
According to NJ.com, approximately 1,230 people have been charged with the insurrection.
Deadly Attack
Of those, 730 have pleaded guilty, and another 170 have been found guilty at trial by a judge or a jury. There have only been two defendants cleared of all charges.
Source: Tyler Merbler/Flickr
The riot at the capitol was the deadliest attack on the building since the War of 1812 and is an issue that remains in voters’ minds in the upcoming election.
Officer Assaults
27 of the 29 January 6 inmates who are being held in Washington, DC are there on charges of assaulting police officers during the riots.
Source: Tyler Merbler/Flickr
Of those 27, 19 have already been convicted with nine pleading guilty and 10 being convicted by juries. Eight more are waiting trial and may be attempting to negotiate plea deals with the Department of Justice.
Trump Promises
As per NYU Law School’s Just Security, Trump has apparently been talking to Mick Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt who was a January 6 participant who is now deceased.
Source: The White House/Flickr
Back in March he reportedly said he was “setting these guys free” if he secures a second term.
Trump’s actions at the RNC and potential appearance at this gala could have a negative impact on his sentencing come September.